STOP. FLIRTING. WITH. MY GIRLFRIEND!!!
Not cool 
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I absolutely love that album
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Well the showdown between the Serratus and Tantalus has ended after 3 hours and a lot of A/Bing.
The verdict: To hard to determine a winner and incredibly unfair to both if one had to be chosen
Before hearing any of the TGXear buds I was sure they’d be a bit to intense for me in the upper range and a bit lacking in the lower. The great think is is they’re neither. Even where the Tantalus presents itself as mild v-shape it’s just so smooth and well implemented. If you’ve followed my journey you know a few things; treble is where things go south on me and that I like to jam at moderate to louder levels for long sessions. Both Serratus and Tantalus pass these test easily.
Why is it a draw? Serratus is absolutely mind blowing with its imaging, dynamics and separation. Especially the center imaging. I’m not a headphone fan but, between earbuds and IEMs it’s out of this world compared to what I’ve heard. I had previously said it was a great all arounder for my taste simply because of its wow factor with this and a well balanced tuning.
However, Tantalus tightens it up a bit and brings in a more warm presentation. @nymz has it right when he says it’s more of a party starter. Worth mentioning though it’s not an obnoxious club way but, more a laidback lounge sipping whiskey with music in the background.
I still say for my taste they both are great all arounders. If I want to be blown away by details, dynamics and imaging Serratus is the what I’m reaching for. Especially if I want the vocalist more forward. Tantalus is coming in clutch if I just want to soak in warm vibes and mellow out and bring a bit more focus to the rhythm section.
The end verdict will be both are staying and will be getting frequent use. I absolutely believe these two giants both deserve a spot and compliment each other perfectly.
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A very useful comparison, and you’ve dressed that xCAN like a prince! 
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Lovely write up, brother. The Serratus is jarring on first listen but in the best way possible. I remember sitting there, feeling so defeated that this $200 ear bud that a regular person would mistake for a thrown in accessory in some MetroPCS deal dethroned my pair of Monarch’s … they truly are amazing. Enjoy and happy listening, Mags 
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I joke with my wife that most my buds and IEMs would be mistake by most people as a cheap boxed disposables. Probably more likely I’d get robbed for my AirPod Pros before any of my other stuff.
Also, tried the Tantalus today with XBassII, OMG! It’s like the chefs kiss on an already perfectly home cooked soul food dish. Serratus to me will now be referenced as dish from a michelin star restaurant. Where each course is separate, packed full of surprises and jaw dropping with morsels of goodness. Meticulous combined to pull out all the nuanced flavors. Tantalus is like the opposite. I great comfort dish full of soul warming flavor prepared by grandma that just combines into a rich full flavor of goodness. Like biscuits and gravy with a side fried okra.
Edit: Sometimes something sits at the back of our mind and it’s not until it’s called out that it clicks where it came from. Well @GooberBM just did this very same thing to me with the food reference. I’ll keep my comment but, credit goes to him for the analogy. Scouts honor it wasn’t done intentionally and to steal his unique review style.
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Good food references like this is something I strive for. The Tantalus sounds to me like a good Sunday sauce that’s been cooking with meatballs, sausages and freshly picked basil from the plant in the back that my Nonno has been growing for 10 years … yeah. I’d like some of that.
Enjoy the buds, my friend
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GIMMICK INFRINGEMENT!!!
I mean dang. Just a blatant robbery!
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Ah man I swear I didn’t intentionally to do that. But, your reviews must of been in the back corner of my mind and it didn’t click until your comment. I’ll edit to give credit to your review style and where it’s due.
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Darn tootin’, you will 
But your descriptions do make sense. I like’em
Maybe I’ll just stay in my lane now and stick with my risqué comparisons and analogy. Don’t believe I’ve seen them around.
Anyone tried Fiio FF3 or FF5? I am having Yincrow x6 now, does the upgrade worth spending much more guys ?
Reading through some of that post, with some earbuds in my ears for the first time in a minute, after focusing on some IEM DIY’ing, it is pretty jarring how good earbuds are when you let your brain and ears get used to them. If they were better for on-the-go for me, they’d make IEMs obsolete.
But in the end, there’s a use-case for everything.
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haha yeah.
Can I just say:
With a change to a lower-density foam, it is embarrassing how competitive the $8-10 FAEAAL Iris 2.0 is to $100 IEMs
Utterly embarrassing
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I gotta pick up a pair of the 2.0s for sure. The 1.0s aren’t the best Bud without EQ unfortunately but they are definitely better than the $8 asking price.
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The 2.0s needed EQ too but my biggest problem with them was some squishiness caused by a lack of upper-mid/treble energy. The lower-density foams let more upper range energy through and they got so much cleaner.
No more EQ needed
How’s the low end with those lower density foams?
Still there, but cleaner. If the bud has less bass it would get a little limp, but the Iris’ always had some heft to them, so taking a little edge off of the low end isn’t that bad